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Steve McClaren has been talking about his team selection for the FA Cup match against Watford this weekend.

The United Head Coach has promised to play his ‘strongest strongest’ (is that double strength…?) team he has available ‘without taking a risk’ on any players.

McClaren says that ‘one or two players have niggles’ and may miss, with Jack Colback one, the Newcastle boss saying the midfielder has a ‘wear and tear niggle’.

On the injury front he had positive news as well, with Papiss Cisse possibly returning to training next week.

A lot of supporters will be getting feelings of deja vu at Steve McClaren’s words, the only difference is that he is talking BEFORE the game about ‘niggles’ potentially ruling players out, whereas a year ago John Carver told us AFTER the defeat at Leicester that all of his best players had had minor injuries/niggles that had kept them out of the FA Cup tie.

All of them miraculously available again last January for the following Saturday against Chelsea in the Premier League.

Steve McClaren:

“With the position we are in, it doesn’t matter if it’s cup or league. It’s an important game and one we want to go and win.

“We need a win. We need to gather momentum and tomorrow is an opportunity to do that. Arsenal is the standard and the level.

“Tomorrow will be the strongest strongest team we can put out without taking a risk (on any players).

“We are coming up against a Watford team in very good form, so it won’t be easy to win the game. But we will go there to win it.

“We’ve got one or two players who have got niggles and it’s a big risk, so we need to decide if we play them.”

About the author

Jim Robertson

Staff Writer - We don't ask for much, a few decent players and some entertainment, plus a club that looks to do its best by everybody - including the fans.